My family live in a townhouse apartment, 2 stories, small front patio, a fence around the patio. Second floor has a balcony that accessible by both my room and my parent's room by sliding glass door.
Went out tonight to meed friends, we watched Pirates of the Caribbean on a crappy DVD that kept skipping on my friend's laptop hooked up to a moniter. We called it "the extended version" because it lasted 1.5 times longer due to the skips and freezecams.
Friend dropped me off at my house around 1:30, since I normally stay in Berkeley, I don't have a house key. I rang the doorbell, but nobody came out to get it. I called both my parent's cellphone, and they did not pick up.
What to do?
I laid down my guitar case and eyed the fence, it's a little bit higher than me, but I could not afford to make any noise...
I found a small ledge near the bottom of the fence and put my feet on them, I grabbed to top of the fence.
I know I have weak arms, but I have been doing push-ups for the past 2 weeks, so I felt more confident. I hang on the fence for a long time, maybe 1 minute, afraid to commit to whatever I'm suppose to do. I noticed the various objects no top of the fence, leaves, dirts, and what looks like mice dropping. I do not want to think too much about that.
Finally, I thought, "oh fuck it".
With that I bounced with my legs and I had one of my elbows over the fence, the pushups helped, I was able to get both elbows over the fence with some kicking of my legs and wiggles of my body (felt like a seal trying to get over some rock). Once I pushed both of my arms straight, I tugged my legs under myself and I stood on top of the fence.
Two ways I can take...
One way, I could just jump down into our very small patio, and try to open the glass door (we never lock them). But I looked up at my parent's bedroom, lights were comming out of it. I want to say hi to them.
With that I looked upward again, stood straight on the fence, and extended my hands to grab the upper side of the balcony. I found a small ledge, so small I could just fit 2 tips of my feet on it. I stood on that very small ledge and looked down, and thought of just using the glass door on ground floor again. But then that is not interesting.
I knew if I mess up, I probably get hurt really bad, as it is a solid 3 meter drop to the ground if I slip. So this time I hang on the outside of the balcony for bit longer, but finally I bounced up, I rolled and got one of my legs on top. Then I wiggled a bit, until all of my body is on top. I scrambled abit and got inside the balcony.
Obviously the first thing to do is to try to open my parent's bedroom's glass door and give them a big surprise. Surprise to me, the door is effing locked.
Then I looked to the right, a room where light is not comming out, my room, but my grandparents sleep there now since they came to visit us.
I walked to the other door, and attempted to ease it open. It gave away as it's unlocked. I could see the street light, shining between the shadows of branches and leaves, carve into my hand on the glass panel. Very very slowly, I begin to slide the glass panel sideways, i was so glad the rail was clean and made no creaking. I do NOT want to wake up my grandparents.
Then, I proceed to open the mesh screen to keep the bugs out, that gave away easily as well. The warm air gushed outside and a familiar scent of cooking, still trapped inside the house, seeping into my nostrils.
Finally, the curtain. I looked under it first and understood that a chair was placed next to it, so I could not crawl inside. I slid it sideways a little bit, and turning my body sideways, edged myself into the room.
In a very vulnerable position, pinned against the wall, I begin to slide the glass door back into its place, I then eased the curtain close, dropped down to all fours, and crawled toward the other door to the staircase inside.
Grandpa made a loud snore and fidgetted a bit. I was more worried about grandma, as she's a much lighter sleeper, though.
I put my hand around the door handle the same way you put your hands around an egg, and begin to turn it slowly. The door made noises, I was not sure if it is loud enough to wake them up.
I stood up, and taking a chance, I opened the door and slid into the landing, and closed the door behind me.
Walked downstairs, opened the front door and fence, brought my guitar inside, and typed it up before I forget the details.